The 1911 Census is going to become available early, at least in part, and Your Family Tree and one of our readers have played a key role. The National Archives has just announced two services in advance of the official 2012 full release date.
Starting in January, TNA will offer a limited research service where the address of an individual in the 1911 Census is already known. There will be a non-refundable seach charge of £45 (see www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/1911census).
Meanwhile, TNA said it hopes to offer a searchable online service in early 2009, with key sensitive information withheld until 2012. A contract for digitising the Census is expected to be awarded in spring this year. Chief executive Natalie Ceeney said TNA will digitise the 1911 Census as quickly as they can.
The announcements came remarkably swiftly after we contacted TNA over the news that reader Guy Etchells had received a decision from the Information Commissioner Richard Thomas granting him access to one particular 1911 record (for Bottesford in Leicestershire) via the Freedom of Information legislation. Guy (pictured below) is believed to be the first person to achieve a successful ruling of this kind, despite TNA’s attempts to block the release on the grounds of confidentiality. The Information Commissioner ruled that confidentiality could only be applied to details of people’s health or mental infirmity, which did not apply in the case of the particular record Guy requested.
Guy told us: “As you may imagine, I was elated with the decision. I now also have questions about the legality of restricting information of any census up to 1981...”
In its press statement TNA affirmed the government’s commitment to the ‘100-year rule’ for censuses and that “information collected during 1921 and later censuses will be treated in line with this commitment”.
Meanwhile, there have been delays in the expected release of the 1911 Census for Ireland. Dublin's records were due to be online at the end of December. Philip Doyle of the National Archives of Ireland told us: “Both the 1901 and 1911 censuses are expected to be online by 2008-09. Dublin Census Records for 1911 are now expected to be released in June 2007.”
(Editor's note: Well done, Guy. It goes to show that if you stand up for something you believe in, you can get results. It's worth it. Everyone, feel free to post comments below.)
Well done Guy! It's good to have someone like yourself fighting in our corner! :-)
Posted by Lynn Sharpe (192.168.20.68) on December 13, 2006 at 01:54 PM GMT #
Posted by Rebekah Markham (192.168.20.68) on December 13, 2006 at 04:05 PM GMT #
Posted by Lesley Powell (192.168.20.68) on December 13, 2006 at 04:59 PM GMT #
Posted by Ann (192.168.20.68) on December 13, 2006 at 05:08 PM GMT #
Take care
Paul
Posted by Paul Duxbury (192.168.20.68) on December 13, 2006 at 05:28 PM GMT
Website: http://www.theamateurgenealogist.com #
Mike
Posted by Mike (192.168.20.68) on December 13, 2006 at 10:38 PM GMT #
Posted by Anonymous (192.168.20.68) on December 14, 2006 at 01:11 AM GMT #
Posted by Dorothy E. Blais (192.168.20.68) on December 14, 2006 at 02:41 AM GMT #
I am very pleased that the National Archives have decided to release some 1911 census information, but I fear that they, and others are reading too much into the Information Commissioner's Notice.
The decision did not give blanket exclusion to records containing personal data.
The fact that a person in a small village was deaf or blind is not private information, everyone in that village would now of the situation therefore it cannot by any stretch of the imagination be considered sensitive personal data.
The ruling states-
"The Commissioner considers that a public authority should not seek to rely upon section 41 in relation to any request for information if it believes that it would be able to successfully defend an action for breach of confidence."
Cheers
Guy
Posted by Guy (192.168.20.68) on December 14, 2006 at 08:28 AM GMT
Website: http://freespace.virgin.net/guy.etchells #
Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
The price is VERY steep! Why can't it be free like our 1911 Canadian census?
Since beginning my family history research, I've made a habit of copying our family census returns for future family historians. (The last one was rather boring with minimal information). That is, unless you received the long form! Nothing like the old days before all of the privacy laws)!
Posted by LADY NIGHTHAWK (192.168.20.68) on December 15, 2006 at 12:25 AM GMT #
Maybe one day the UK will catch up with the US, which is already up to 1930 releases. It is good that the courts agreed with your sound reasoning.
Posted by Concetta Phillipps (192.168.20.68) on December 15, 2006 at 03:50 AM GMT #
The National Archives propose to run a service in January which is based on an hourly fee of £60.
A Freedom of Information request charge has by law to be based on a £25 per hour fee.
This means for the next few weeks the maximum fee allowed will be £18.75p
Get those requests in fast or miss out.
Cheers
Guy
Posted by Guy (192.168.20.68) on December 15, 2006 at 08:12 AM GMT
Website: http://freespace.virgin.net/guy.etchells #
Posted by Lady Nighthawk (192.168.20.68) on December 15, 2006 at 03:53 PM GMT #
Cheers
Guy
Posted by Guy (192.168.20.68) on December 20, 2006 at 10:32 PM GMT
Website: http://freespace.virgin.net/guy.etchells #
By the way Guy I have read that the assurances given on the post 1981 censuses may not be binding as they were added by the Registrar General without the authority of Parliament.
Bob
Posted by Bob Clayton (192.168.20.68) on December 25, 2006 at 12:25 PM GMT #
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050314/text/50314w20.htm
"In an attempt to simplify the confidentiality message on the front of the 1981 and the 1991 Census forms, the assurances, as worded, stated that the Registrar General had authority himself to retain the records for 100 years. This pledge asserts authority that the Registrar General does not have."
Cheers
Guy
Posted by Guy (192.168.20.68) on December 31, 2006 at 10:05 PM GMT
Website: http://freespace.virgin.net/guy.etchells #
Posted by Paul Etherington (192.168.20.68) on January 04, 2007 at 05:55 PM GMT #
But concerned about 1981 & above,if given freedom of information on these census,it would be of concern to me & many other people alive.
This is just my personal thought
Posted by Howard Wootton (192.168.20.68) on January 05, 2007 at 09:48 PM GMT #
http://search.number-10.gov.uk/kbroker/number10/number10/search.lsim?ha=1100&sr=0&sf=&qt=Census&nh=10&cs=iso-8859-1&sc=number10&sm=0&mt=1&to=0
There are a couple of associated petitions here if anyone hasn't seen them before.
Posted by Gary (192.168.20.68) on January 28, 2007 at 12:41 PM GMT #
I strongly sense from his questions that my 90 year old uncle born 1916, is terrified that in the course of my research I will find out something he does not wish the family to know.
My guess is that there was an illegitimate child somewhere, perhaps during WW2, but I respect his desire to keep a secret and don't ask.
(I think he was and still is what is known as a "ladies man". Even at his age, he still has a twinkle in his eye. After 3 marriages, he now lives with a "lady friend" that he calls his housekeeper but we all know she's more than that and we are delighted for him).
In the past I reassured my uncle that no information is released until 100 years after it is recorded, and he was visibly relieved.
I have also explained how census information is indexed, and would like to tell him that if he had an illegitimate child, a census almost certainly wouldn't reveal the fact, but I can't mention it directly. And the fact that there was no 1941 census could help reassure him even more.
Trouble is, he does not understand computers and believes they are all-powerful and can tell anyone anything they need to know about anyone else at the touch of one button (if only!!)
I will have to hope he never hears about the potential for early release of censuses as otherwise he will be in a panic again.
This is not an arguement against early release of 20th century census info, but a reminder that if that happens, information and education of the general public as to what it means would be essential.
Posted by HB (192.168.20.68) on February 18, 2007 at 12:20 PM GMT #
Visit http://home.clara.net/denis.mccready/index.htm for further information.
Posted by Denis McCready (127.0.0.1) on March 03, 2007 at 07:25 AM GMT
Website: http://home.clara.net/denis.mccready/index.htm #
Thanks Guy for all your hard work
Posted by Pauline Southern (127.0.0.1) on September 14, 2007 at 05:27 PM BST #
Posted by Harry Kendall (127.0.0.1) on September 25, 2007 at 07:43 AM BST #
Posted by Mary Coton (127.0.0.1) on December 16, 2007 at 01:54 PM GMT #
also mi5 have been released why can't all census
returns up to the & including the 1951 census be available on line
Posted by Laurence A Johnson (127.0.0.1) on January 12, 2008 at 09:34 AM GMT #
Posted by Harry Kendall (127.0.0.1) on September 25, 2007 at 07:43 AM BST #"
Harry
The Rolfe name is part of my family tree and the Pocahontas story has been runing for generatiosn we have gone back so far and like you are now a bit lost. I'd love to know what evidence you might have had
Pat Kent
Posted by Pat Kent (127.0.0.1) on March 12, 2008 at 07:14 PM GMT #
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on July 14, 2008 at 10:15 AM BST #
and your very old and gray .
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on July 14, 2008 at 11:07 AM BST #
Apparently findmypast.com is handling the project.
Bit more info about it here:
http://www.1911census.co.uk/
Posted by Mark (127.0.0.1) on September 12, 2008 at 09:48 AM BST
Website: http://www.findmypast.com #
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on October 14, 2008 at 02:25 PM BST #
£45 a hit is a bit steep though. At that price, they won't recoup the money spent digitising it until at least June 22nd 2136 :)
Posted by Chris Blanchett (127.0.0.1) on December 17, 2008 at 02:50 AM GMT #
At the moment, the 1911 census is being released. The amount demanded to view a page is nothing short of a rip-off, at up to £3.60 per page. I seem to remember that the corresponding charge was 75p when the 1901 census was first released. I know they want to recoup the costs of digitising and publishing, but that is a deterrent price. Certainly I shall be very selective in what I decide to view at that cost.
Posted by Gerontius (127.0.0.1) on December 26, 2008 at 04:56 PM GMT #
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on December 29, 2008 at 09:51 PM GMT #
Posted by Dr. Norman Grant (127.0.0.1) on January 13, 2009 at 09:05 AM GMT #
information to a family so as to make money for the company Frazer and Frazer, I have asked the Dover MP mr prosser for the answer to this, but have not had an answer to this question, it is now five months since i first spoke with him.
well P_____ of
Anthony E J Pile, Dover
Posted by 127.0.0.1 on January 13, 2009 at 10:12 AM GMT #
As for not wanting descendants to know about skeletons in the closet etc, ancestors should have considered that fact at the time and by knowing the upto the minute info surely that is going to help futue generations as we record our families history
Posted by Dale Shaylor (127.0.0.1) on January 13, 2009 at 08:06 PM GMT
Website: http://?? #
Posted by james d (127.0.0.1) on January 14, 2009 at 02:15 AM GMT #
Posted by Jean (127.0.0.1) on January 14, 2009 at 05:58 PM GMT #
Posted by Sophie Emma Jones (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2009 at 11:27 AM BST
Website: http://yes #
Posted by Ella Louise Jones (127.0.0.1) on April 15, 2009 at 11:31 AM BST
Website: http://www.paperrocksandcheese.com #
Posted by Leslie Young (127.0.0.1) on October 07, 2009 at 04:13 PM BST #